OnPath appoints specialist to deliver solar park

A renewable energy firm is helping power up a major solar development near Leeds with support from a global contractor.

OnPath Energy has appointed GOLDBECK SOLAR to lead engineering, procurement and construction at its new Barnsdale Solar Energy Park, located between Kippax and Allerton Bywater. 

Spanning 50 hectares, the site will generate enough electricity to power around 13,000 homes.

Construction is due to start this summer, with GOLDBECK SOLAR also managing design and survey work and overseeing the site’s connection to the National Grid via Ledston Primary electricity sub-station. 

It will also maintain the project for its first two years of operation.

Colin Deans, UK country manager at GOLDBECK SOLAR, said: “We are delighted to be working with OnPath on this project, marking our first collaboration.

“Barnsdale adds to our ever-growing construction pipeline and we look forward to working with OnPath on delivering a high performing project.

“This site has some unique challenges and we believe it highlights our expertise on designing projects like Barnsdale.”

Alongside the green energy it will generate, Barnsdale is also set to deliver a 106 per cent biodiversity net gain – ten times higher than average – through features such as wildflower meadows, wetlands and native planting.

More than £800,000 of future revenue will go into a community fund as part of OnPath’s commitment to local support and sustainability through its OnPath Together approach.

Martin Kellerman, construction director at OnPath Energy, which is headquartered at Chase House in Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland, added: “The Barnsdale Solar Energy Park is OnPath’s first solar project and represents a real milestone towards achieving the company’s ambition of becoming the UK’s leading land-based renewable energy developer.

“We’ve been making excellent progress with our preparatory work at the site and excited to be moving quickly towards the start of construction work proper. 

“GOLDBECK SOLAR has extensive experience of working on solar energy generation projects, both within the UK and overseas, and we’re very pleased to have them as part of an excellent team of contractors that will help us deliver the Barnsdale Solar Energy Park with maximum efficiency.”

Local residents, businesses and community groups can find out more about the Barnsdale Solar Energy Park by visiting www.onpathenergy.com/barnsdale

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